Clasp



June 25, 1935. H, w, KULP ET AL 2,005,841

' CLASP r Filed Jan. 39,1934

Nerf); Owl/near Patented June 25, 1935 cm sr Harry W. Kulp and Martin C. Dellinger; Lancaster,'Pa.-, assignors to K-D Manufacturing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania Pa., a corporation of Application January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,884

4 Claims.

This invention relates to general utility clips or clasps of the vacuum or suction cup attached or supported type and, as is apparent, may be attached by said suction cup to a wall to hold a hat or other article or papers or may be conveniently used to hold a road map or the like being in the latter case conveniently stuck to an automobile window glass or wind-shield.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide such a clip or clasp of very few parts and of simple construction capable of extremely economical manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing: Y

Figure 1 represents a perspective viewof a clasp embodying our'invention illustrated as holding a hat; v

Figure 2, a vertical sectional view on the lin 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in the'direction of the arrows; g

Figure 3, a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the directionof the arrows;

Figure 4, a detail perspective view of the spring openings 3 respectively in the 'upper portionsof l; and

Figure 5, a horizontal sectional view'on .the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. g

Referring now in detail to the drawing, A and B respectively designate the clasp plate members which are in every respect exact duplicates or substantially so and will preferably be formed by sheet metal stamping operations from the same set of dies, and C designates the rubber vacuum or suction cup.

Each said clamp member or plate A and B is formed, preferably in a single sheet metal stamping operation by which it is formed, with an inwardly offset strap 2 having a straight por-- tion substantially corresponding in length to the width of the spring hinge I, an inwardly pressed or offset preferably circular stud 4 having an abrupt radially outer face extending substantially perpendicular to the adjacent portion of the inner face of its member A or B as the case may be and being preferably of such external diameter as to make a snug fit in its cooperating hole or socket 3 in the corresponding arm of the spring I and preferably of such length as not to substantially exceed the thickness of such arm adjacent to such hole or socket 3; a large preferably circular opening 5 in its upper end portion preferably centrally of the latter; and a reinforcing and spacing and positioning outwardly pressed rib I with its upper portion extending substantially concentrically about the openopenings 5.

The centers of the holes or perforation 5, stud 4 and strap 2 of each plate or member A or B will be in substantial alignment with each other vertically and in assembled relation the centers of the straps 2 will be in substantial alignment horizontally, and'the same app as 130 e ters of the studs 4 and of the perforations or The spring-hinge member I will preferably be substantially of W shape as illustrated being formed from resilient spring steel or metal stock and serves the dual function of a hinge to permit the opening and closing of the clasp, that is, relative movementbetween the members or plates A and B, and of a spring'to forcethe lower portions of the plates A and B toward each other to grip between their opposed lower edge faces the .article to be gripped or held. 7

The" spring-hinge member .I is formed with the respective outer upwardly extending and upwardly and outwardly diverging arms of said spring-hinge member Ito snugly fit overand receive the corresponding cooperating studs 4 of the respective members or plates A and B, the extreme upper end portions of said arms above said holes 3 having their outer faces slightly upward and inwardly rounded or curved to facilitate the operation of assembling the clip.

The suction or vacuum cup is formed with a relatively broad fiat or plane centrally disposed shoulder l on'its rear face, a narrow neck ll of an external diameter substantially corresponding to the internal diameter of each of the holes extending rearwardly from said shoulder and preferably substantially concentric with said shoulder i0, and an enlarged rear head 9. said suction or vacuum cup C may be of any known construction suitable to the purpose.

To assemble the suction cup C and one of the plate members A or B, for instance the plate or member B as illustrated, the head 9 is compressed and forced inwardly through the hole 5 so that the neck H is disposed in said hole 5, the outer face of the rib l engaging the opposed face of the shoulder Ill substantially concentrically of said neck I I in excess of 180 degrees, and preferably approximately 260 to 280 degrees, about said neck to prevent wobbling and canting between the member B and the cup C, and thereafter a short pointed screw 6 is driven into said head 9 Otherwise,

and neck I l centrally thereof and turned up tight, a preferably metal washer 8 being disposed about the screw 6 and interposed between the opposing faces of the latter and said head 9.

To assemble the two plates or members A and B with relation to each other and the spring I, the outer arms of the spring tare, respectively inserted between the respective straps 2 of the respective plates A and B and shoved upward uning stud centrally located above said strap, in combination with a resilient approximately W- shape spring-hinge member for hingedly connecting said plates together and for resiliently pressing the lower portions of said plates toward each other to grip an article between their registering ppposed lQwer edgefaces, theouter arms of said member diverging upwardly, being adapted respectively'to fit between the outer faces of til the lower portions of said arms approachesthe. the respective straps and the adjacent inner faces respective straps 2, when the upper portionsof said arms are sprung inward to ride over the re spective studs 4 until the respective holes 3 and studs 4 are in registry, when the upper ends of the said arms will spring outward about and locking with the said respective studs 4, when this assembling operation will have been completed.

Having thus describediour' invention, whatwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-r ent is:

' "11A clasp comprising'afpair of substantially identically formedsheet metal plates, each plate I being formed with an inwardly'pressed integral horizontal strap'having a portion straight in a direction parallel to the face of said plate, and an inwardly pressed circular stud centrally lo- ,cated above said strap, in combination with a resilient approximately W-shape spring-hinge edgefacesythe outer arms of said member di- "verging. upwardly, being adapted respectively to fit between the outer faces of the respective straps and the adjacent .inner faces of the respective plates and being formed in their upper portions with holes correspondingsin shape to, and of such size 'as'to snugly receive, the respective studs,

said arms being of a width substantially equal to the length of the straight portions of said straps and having their extreme upper end portions in- :wardly bent or rounded to facilitate the passage of theupper portions of the respective armsupward over the'respective studs.

2. A clasp comprising a pair of metal plates,

each plate being formed with an inwardly extending horizontal strap, and an inwardly extendthe respective plates and being formed in their upper portions with holes corresponding in shape to, and of such size as to snugly receive, the respective studs, said arms having their extreme upper end portions, inwardly bent or rounded to facilitate thepassage of the upper portions of the respective arms upward over the respective studs. 3. A clasp comprising a pair of metal plates eachplate being formed with an inwardly presented strap extending substantially parallel to V the adjacent'portion of the inner face of. said plate, and an inwardly extending stud located above said strap, in combination with a resilient spring-hinge, member for. hingedly connecting said plates together and for resiliently pressing f the lower portions of said plates toward each other to grip an article, the outer arms of said member diverging upwardly, being adapted respectively to fit between the'outer faces of the respective straps and the adjacent inner faces of, the respective plates and being formed in their upper portions with holes to receive the respective studs.

4. A clasp'comprisinga pair of metal plates, each plate being formed with an inwardly. offset strap, and an inwardly projecting stud located above said strap, in combination-with aresilient spring-hinge member :for' hingedly connecting said plates together and for resiliently pressing said plates toward'eachother, the outer. arms of said member being adapted respectivelyto fit between the outer faces of the respective straps and the adjacent ,inner faces of: the respective plates and being formed with holes to receive the respective studs.

HARRY W. KULB. MARTIN C. DELLINGER. 

